Note* We usually do not use ING with understand, know, love, and remember.
Past vs Past continuous
Step 1 - As with the grammar point above, you just have to K.I.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE). Try not to over think or study it. We will look at two tenses - the past tense and past continuous.
Past tense - I woke up late. - She studied for the test. - The teacher was angry.
Past continuous - She waswatching TV for 3 hours. - The students werewaiting for the teacher. - He wasreading in the cafe with his girlfriend.
Step 2 - So, what is the difference between these two tenses? Well... there are a few, but let's just look at one or two.
Firstly, we use past tense to talk about something that has finished.
- He woke up late. - She studied for the test.
These actions have already happened, and have finished.
Now, we use past continuous to talk about two actions that happened at the same time. We use the word while to show this.
- The students were waiting for the teacherwhile he got ready. - He was reading in the cafewhile his girl friend chatted on her phone.
Also, we use past continuous to talk about an action that interrupts another action. We use the word when to show this.
- She was studyingwhen her phone rang. - They were driving homewhen it started to rain. - He was walking homewhen he realised he had left his phone on the bus. - A woman was waiting for a buswhen a man grabbed her bag and ran away.
Step 3 - Download the PDF file below and try the exercises.
There are two future tenses that you can use: Will & Going to. Both are very useful, but are a little bit different to each other.
Step 1 - Read the examples below.
1. Will - I'll - won't We usually use this to talk about things that haven't been decided yet, for example: - I (think) I'll go to the mall on Monday. - (Maybe) they will come to the class on time tomorrow. - They won't finish the project on time. - I don't think that anyone will forget to finish their essay.
2. Going - I'm going - I'm not going - gonna We usually use this to talk about things that have been decided, for example: - I'mgoing togo shopping with my friends next week. - The university is going to change the passport system this month. - There aren't going to be any classes on Friday, because of the public holiday. - The prime minister is going to announce some changes on Monday.
3. Put them together - Usually, people put these two grammar points together. Look at the example below.
A. What are you going to do this weekend? B. I have a busy weekend planned. I'm going to go to see a film with my friends. A. Oh nice. What film are you going to see? B. Umm... we haven't decided yet, but I think we'll see a comedy. But then, after the film we are going to go to a restaurant. A. That sounds nice. What kind? B. We are going to go to a Thai restaurant. I can't wait.
4. Use will for something you decide to do at the moment you speak. Look at the examples.
- I really like this t-shirt. I think I'll get it. - Are you hot? I'll turn on the A.C. - That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it. - You look tired everyone, so I'll give you a 15 minute break.
5. If you are talking about things you believe will happen in the future, use will. - I think it'll rain tomorrow. - Do you think you will find a good job after your graduate? - We are going to have a test on Monday. I think'll fail it.
In this section we will look at the perfect tenses. But first, let's look at the difference between a perfect tense sentence and a past tense sentence. Check out the example sentence below, can you see a pattern?
Step 1 1. I lived in Bangkok last year. 2. I have never lived abroad. 3. I've bought the tickets. 4. We had an awesome time at the party on Monday. 5. I haven't seen a film for a long time. Let's go to the cinema! 6. Last night, I studied for over 4 hours, then I had to help my friend study after that. 7. She is so sad, because she broke up with her boyfriend a few hours ago. 8. Oh I'm so happy, because I've found my phone!!
Step 2 When we have a time marker, we usually do not use the perfect tenses. - I went shopping on Monday. - I watched a movie with my friends last night. - I was friends with him when we were in University.
When there is no time marker, we usually use the perfect tenses. - I've bought a new car. (We don't care WHEN he bought it) - I've been to Thailand. (We don't care WHEN she went there)
- They've finished their essay. (We don't care WHEN they finished it).
Step 3 Also, there is another difference between past tense and perfect tense.
1. When we talk about something that happened in the past, we use past tense. - I lived in Korea for 3 years. (now I don't live in Korea) - I worked at the Apple store for 2 months. (now I don't work there) - I studied for the test for 4 hours. (now I don't study for that test)
2. We use perfect to talk about actions that started in the past, but still continue. - I have lived in Korea for 3 months. (I still live here) - I have worked at the Apple store for 5 months. (I still work here) - I have known my best friend for 10 years. (I still know him)
Yes, it can be very confusing. So, I recommend remembering example sentences. If you do this, you will be able to use them in your speaking and writing much sooner.
Step 4 Download the PDF below and try the exercises.
Gerunds & Infinitives Gerunds are words that contain ING just like walking, running and sleeping. They are usually attached to verbs, so walk + ing, run + ing (take care with the spelling), and sleep + ing. When you add 'ing,' to a verb it becomes a noun. This means that you will still need to add a verb. Look at the examples below.
He sleeps (in this sentence, sleep is a verb). He is sleeping (is is the verb, and sleeping is the noun).
They walk. They are walking
Infinitives are words that are followed by a 'to,' just like want to, try to, hope to. They usually do not have an 'ing' after them.
Grammar page
Table of Contents
Simple present vs Present continuous
Step 1 - This grammar point is not super difficult. In fact, you just have to remember some simple, easy to follow rules.
1. I study English (every day, on Mondays, often) Non-specific time.
This happens, frequently usually, often, always. Think of some easy examples like breakfast. I eat breakfast every day. I'm eating breakfast everyday.
2. I'm studying English (on Monday, at 2pm, tonight, tomorrow, later, now) Specific time.
This happens at a specific time. This means that a specific time is chosen for you to do something.
- I'm meeting my friend at 6pm.
- We are taking the train to Singapore on Monday.
- I'm watching a film with my classmate tonight.
Step 2 - Below you can practice the grammar point. Just download the PDF file.
Step 3 - Try the online quiz below. Just click on the link to take it.
Click here to practice
Note* We usually do not use ING with understand, know, love, and remember.
Past vs Past continuous
Step 1 - As with the grammar point above, you just have to K.I.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE). Try not to over think or study it.We will look at two tenses - the past tense and past continuous.
Past tense
- I woke up late.
- She studied for the test.
- The teacher was angry.
Past continuous
- She was watching TV for 3 hours.
- The students were waiting for the teacher.
- He was reading in the cafe with his girlfriend.
Step 2 - So, what is the difference between these two tenses? Well... there are a few, but let's just look at one or two.
Firstly, we use past tense to talk about something that has finished.
- He woke up late.
- She studied for the test.
These actions have already happened, and have finished.
Now, we use past continuous to talk about two actions that happened at the same time. We use the word while to show this.
- The students were waiting for the teacher while he got ready.
- He was reading in the cafe while his girl friend chatted on her phone.
Also, we use past continuous to talk about an action that interrupts another action. We use the word when to show this.
- She was studying when her phone rang.
- They were driving home when it started to rain.
- He was walking home when he realised he had left his phone on the bus.
- A woman was waiting for a bus when a man grabbed her bag and ran away.
Step 3 - Download the PDF file below and try the exercises.
Step 4 - Try the online practice below
Click here to practice
Future tenses
There are two future tenses that you can use: Will & Going to. Both are very useful, but are a little bit different to each other.Step 1 - Read the examples below.
1. Will - I'll - won't
We usually use this to talk about things that haven't been decided yet, for example:
- I (think) I'll go to the mall on Monday.
- (Maybe) they will come to the class on time tomorrow.
- They won't finish the project on time.
- I don't think that anyone will forget to finish their essay.
2. Going - I'm going - I'm not going - gonna
We usually use this to talk about things that have been decided, for example:
- I'm going to go shopping with my friends next week.
- The university is going to change the passport system this month.
- There aren't going to be any classes on Friday, because of the public holiday.
- The prime minister is going to announce some changes on Monday.
3. Put them together - Usually, people put these two grammar points together. Look at the example below.
A. What are you going to do this weekend?
B. I have a busy weekend planned. I'm going to go to see a film with my friends.
A. Oh nice. What film are you going to see?
B. Umm... we haven't decided yet, but I think we'll see a comedy. But then, after the film we are going to
go to a restaurant.
A. That sounds nice. What kind?
B. We are going to go to a Thai restaurant. I can't wait.
4. Use will for something you decide to do at the moment you speak. Look at the examples.
- I really like this t-shirt. I think I'll get it.
- Are you hot? I'll turn on the A.C.
- That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it.
- You look tired everyone, so I'll give you a 15 minute break.
5. If you are talking about things you believe will happen in the future, use will.
- I think it'll rain tomorrow.
- Do you think you will find a good job after your graduate?
- We are going to have a test on Monday. I think'll fail it.
Step 2 - Look at the PDF exercises.
Step 3 - Try the online practice.
Click here to practice
Past tense vs Simple Perfect
In this section we will look at the perfect tenses. But first, let's look at the difference between a perfect tense sentence and a past tense sentence. Check out the example sentence below, can you see a pattern?
Step 1
1. I lived in Bangkok last year.
2. I have never lived abroad.
3. I've bought the tickets.
4. We had an awesome time at the party on Monday.
5. I haven't seen a film for a long time. Let's go to the cinema!
6. Last night, I studied for over 4 hours, then I had to help my friend study after that.
7. She is so sad, because she broke up with her boyfriend a few hours ago.
8. Oh I'm so happy, because I've found my phone!!
Step 2
When we have a time marker, we usually do not use the perfect tenses.
- I went shopping on Monday.
- I watched a movie with my friends last night.
- I was friends with him when we were in University.
When there is no time marker, we usually use the perfect tenses.
- I've bought a new car. (We don't care WHEN he bought it)
- I've been to Thailand. (We don't care WHEN she went there)
- They've finished their essay. (We don't care WHEN they finished it).
Step 3
Also, there is another difference between past tense and perfect tense.
1. When we talk about something that happened in the past, we use past tense.
- I lived in Korea for 3 years. (now I don't live in Korea)
- I worked at the Apple store for 2 months. (now I don't work there)
- I studied for the test for 4 hours. (now I don't study for that test)
2. We use perfect to talk about actions that started in the past, but still continue.
- I have lived in Korea for 3 months. (I still live here)
- I have worked at the Apple store for 5 months. (I still work here)
- I have known my best friend for 10 years. (I still know him)
Yes, it can be very confusing. So, I recommend remembering example sentences. If you do this, you will be able to use them in your speaking and writing much sooner.
Step 4
Download the PDF below and try the exercises.
Step 5
Try the online practice below.
Click here to practice
Present perfect vs Present perfect continuous
Click here to practice part 1
Click here to practice part 2
Gerunds & Infinitives
Gerunds are words that contain ING just like walking, running and sleeping. They are usually attached to verbs, so
walk + ing, run + ing (take care with the spelling), and sleep + ing. When you add 'ing,' to a verb it becomes a noun. This means that you will still need to add a verb. Look at the examples below.
He sleeps (in this sentence, sleep is a verb).
He is sleeping (is is the verb, and sleeping is the noun).
They walk.
They are walking
Infinitives are words that are followed by a 'to,' just like want to, try to, hope to. They usually do not have an 'ing' after them.
Verb + ING
Click here to practice
To + Infinitive
Click here to practice
Modals
Click here to practice
Week 4 grammar
Conditional sentences
Practice the 0 & 1st conditionals
Click here to practice
Practice the 2nd conditional
Click here to practice
If you click on the link below, you'll be able to read a poem about IF.
Click here
If you click on this next link, you'll be able to read another poem about IF.
Click here
Passive
Click here to practice
Extras
Click on the link to read 25 common grammatical mistakes.Click here